Nicholas Radford said he competed in Friday’s Liberty Bell Challenge individual showcase at Plymouth Whitemarsh to pursue his dream.

Nicholas Radford (Team Carolina)

“Lacrosse is my passion and I hope to play at the next level so I came out here to pursue my dreams,” said the 2017 midfielder from Team Carolina and Charlotte Country Day.

Radford was one of 276 players in the classes of 2016-19 that participated in the kickoff event of the inaugural showcase weekend for the Passport Alliance before more than 50 college coaches. Twelve club programs will compete today and Sunday in a high school and youth-aged team tournament at Germantown Academy and Upper Dublin.

Radford also answered these questions:

How did you adjust to the competition?
Radford: “Everybody has strengths; there are some good shooters and some good dodgers and you have to watch the competition and be on your toes.”

What did you learn from the event?
Radford: “It’s really all about fundamentals. We don’t know each other and there are no plays so you have to get groundballs and get every pass. Every possession is an opportunity to score and may mean the difference in winning or losing.”

What are your college goals?
Radford: “I am mainly looking at academics. I know a lot of kids a couple years above me who went D1 and they were really good players that never stepped on the field. I want to go somewhere where I can play and not be on the bench.”

Other players that shined Friday:

Nick Heiler (Duke’s L.C.)

Nick Heiler, 2017 FO/MF, Lansadale Catholic (PA), Duke’s L.C.

What were your goals for the event?
Heiler: “I wanted to get looked out by some college coaches wanted and to win a lot of faceoffs. I did that happy; I was with my play.”

How did you adjust to the competition?
Heiler: “It was really good all day and they challenged me to the end.”

What did you learn from the event (he had to take every faceoff for his team in each game)?
Heiler: “I drank all day and kept hydrated and stayed in the shade when I could. I learned to keep on trying. I feel off a little, but kept on going.”

What are you college goals?

Adam Galovich (Duke’s L.C.)

Heiler: “I just want a school that is interested in me.”

Adam Galovich, 2017 DEF, Seneca Valley (PA), Dukes L.C.

What were your goals for the event?
Galovich: “I thought I did pretty well. I told some colleges that I would be here and I really came out trying to impress them and other colleges that may fit my future.”

How did you adjust to the competition?
Galovich: “the competition was really good; it was probably the best showcase I have ever been to. I had to play very smart since I had never played with any of these kids. I had to keep talking and to learn how everybody played.”

What did you learn from the event?
Galovich: “Teamwork goes a long way. You come in here not having seen anyone before. Since everybody out here is a good player, you have to just play smart, play loud and play hard.”

What are your college goals?
Galovich: “I want the school to be strong academically and I don’t want to go somewhere and not play until my junior or senior year.”

Garritt Schwarz, 2017 ATT, Maclay (FL), Rock Lacrosse-MD

Garrit Schwarz (Rock Lacrosse)

What were your goals for the event?
Schwarz: “I wanted to get looked at by coaches and get to know a bunch of the guys.”

How did you adjust to the competition?
Schwarz: “It was really good competition and lot of fun. At first we didn’t know each other that well but by the third game we knew each other and played a lot better. We had some good teamwork and became friendly with each other.”

What did you learn from the event?
Schwarz: “You just got to play smart and not force as much. The game is a lot faster so I had to slow myself down.”

What are your college goals?
Schwarz: “I am not sure yet so I am looking for whatever colleges are interested in me.”

Milo Navarro 2018 ATT, Academy Of The New Church (PA), Duke’s L.C/Bucks Select

Milo Navarro (Dukes L.C.)

What were your goals?
Navarro: “I came in wanting to work hard and improve on the skills I have been focusing on all summer. I wanted to work on dodging down the alley and I felt I improved on that.”

How was the competition?
Navarro: “There were some good players and you had to work with everyone. With the better players, I got to see what I had to work on the most.”

What did you learn about your game?
Navarro: “I need to be more aggressive and dodge more often.”

What are your college goals?
Navarro: “I’m looking for a good education first.”

Andrew Caples, 2018 DEF, McDonogh School (MD), Rock Lacrosse

What were your goals for the showcase?

Andrew Caples (Rock Lacrosse)

Caples: “I wanted to come in today and go hard and hustle and show what I have. I wanted to work on my 1-on-1 plays and I think I did pretty well today.”

How was the competition?
Caples: “The competition was really good and I always have a lot of fun playing with new guys and getting to know them. Over the first couple games you get to know people’s playing styles and you get to make some friends at the same time.”

What did you learn about your game?
Caples: “Obviously, a lot of guys out here will probably be some of the better guys we’ll see this weekend. I kind of got a feel for the competition for the rest of the weekend.”

What are your college goals?
Caples: “I am looking for a college where I can get a good education, maybe Ivy or Patriot League.”